Rigger Training?

[Shotgun 1]

The reason I'm asking this in the BASE Zone is because I'm interested in taking a Senior Rigger's course to help me with my BASE packing. I know this may sound a bit excessive, but...

Has anyone else done this? Or does anyone have a suggestion for a course that might be better than the others (i.e. the instructor is a BASE jumper). Right now I'm looking at Sandy Reid's course just because it appears to be the most thorough - but I'm curious to hear other opinions...

(I've taken a First Jump Course, but the only time that was spent on packing was packing before each jump, so I didn't feel like I really learned how to pack - I thought at least a full day of packing class before doing any jumps would have been better, but that's just me...)

Thanks for any info! Keely

[motherhucker 0]

I would highly recommend taking a rigger's course and getting your rating, if only to increase your knowledge base of the hows, whys, ins & outs of parachute systems.
When I started skydiving, I thought I knew a lot about canopies, Until I got into BASE.
When I started BASE jumping, I thought I knew a lot about canopies, until I started rigger training.
When I started rigger training, I thought I knew a lot about canopies, until I started building parachutes.
Now I just accept that I can and will not ever know enough about canopies and the sports we use them in.
Keep yourself a student, and your ego will never get in the way.
huck.

[hookitt 1]

I didn't know you were building Parachutes. Are you still doing that?

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[hookitt 1]

Ive been a rigger for Years. That was the only advantage I had going into BASE jumping. Becoming familiar with gear is probably one of the best things you can do for yourself. I've learned TONS since Ive been BASE jumping. If you can take the time to become a rigger, Do it. Keep in mind that rigging courses give you a license to learn. It's a big responsibility that should not be taken lightly.

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[Zennie 0]

I'm mentoring under a Master Rigger here in Texas (Bill Lee) right now for this very reason. I really think to be a truly knowledgable BASE jumper you need to have a rigger's knowledge of equipment.

I've always been one who like to know how his equipment works, and I always sort of felt like I never really understood the "whys" of things when I was just skydiving.

I plan on at least getting my Senior Rigger's ticket. There are an awful lot of riggers out there so I'm not sure I want to really go into it as a side business, but you never know.

Some may disagree here, but if you can mentor under a good Master Rigger I would highly recommend that over a course. The going might be slower, but you'll learn an awful lot and meet a lot of people in both the skydiving and BASE communities. It's as much a social thing as a gear thing.

Just my $0.02

- Z
"Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

[Shotgun 1]

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Some may disagree here, but if you can mentor under a good Master Rigger I would highly recommend that over a course.

Thanks for the reply...

This is what I originally wanted to do, but unfortunately being a woman has turned out to be a problem here too (referring to the thread on "Boyfriends and BASE")... I've had several offers from riggers that I can mentor under, but they're all men so the motivation is questionable - at first this put me off rigging altogether, but now I'm thinking a course might be a better option for me (though I realize I will need to continue learning after the course). There is one female Master Rigger out here who I would love to have for a "mentor", but for some reason she would rather spend her time BASE jumping than teaching people how to rig - go figure!

I'm really thinking Sandy Reid's course (USAPR) is the way to go, but I haven't talked to anyone who has actually taken this course (and it's pretty expensive so it's a big decision for me). So if anyone has taken this course or knows anything about it, I would certainly appreciate your opinion (feel free to email or PM me). Thanks! :-)

[skreamer 1]

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I've taken a First Jump Course, but the only time that was spent on packing was packing before each jump

I'm surprized to hear that. I thought a significant amount of the training before the first jump focussed on packing. I'd have thought/hoped this would be thorough enough that you would then be confident of jumping your own pack job (packed under supervision of course).

Who did you do your course through, how many days etc. If you'd prefer to PM me details, that would be fine too.

Will

[narcimund 0]

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I've had several offers from riggers that I can mentor under, but they're all men so the motivation is questionable

I hope you have individual reasons to distrust these riggers rather than simply lumping them together as men. I mean, really. That's unfair to men AND yourself.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[Shotgun 1]

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I hope you have individual reasons to distrust these riggers rather than simply lumping them together as men. I mean, really. That's unfair to men AND yourself.

You mean all men aren't evil and lecherous? (kidding)

Yes, I had individual reasons... and I wouldn't even say that I "distrusted" them so much as that the situation was slightly questionable - the guys I mentioned are still my friends, I just didn't feel comfortable with the "student/mentor" relationship with these particular people.

Anyhow, I didn't mean to start a thread about male/female stuff (maybe I should not have mentioned that!) - just wanted some advice about rigger courses... or to start a discussion about the usefulness of rigger training for BASE jumping.

[Shotgun 1]

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I've taken a First Jump Course, but the only time that was spent on packing was packing before each jump

I'm surprized to hear that. I thought a significant amount of the training before the first jump focussed on packing. I'd have thought/hoped this would be thorough enough that you would then be confident of jumping your own pack job (packed under supervision of course).

I took the course from BR. I think their course varies from class to class. Sometimes they hold the class in Perris and sometimes they hold it at the Perrine. I think when they do it at Perris, they spend more time on packing. When it is held at the Perrine I think the weather decides a lot of what goes on. (If the weather is bad they spend that time packing - if it's good the whole time they jump the whole time and pack in between jumps.)

Of course they do call it a "First Jump Course" and not a "BASE Rigging Course" so it's not like they're promising you'll be an expert packer when you're done. They emphasize during the course that this is not enough training to just go out and start BASE jumping all on your own - that you should still be learning from experienced BASE jumpers.

Actually I think even if we had done a full day of packing, I would still be considering rigger training. Packing (and rigging) just seems so important in BASE that I would really like to have it drilled into my head as much as possible.